Next-Level Leadership: A Holistic Experience

Leadership in a Changing World

The world is calling for leadership—but in what way? And what is your contribution to this? The world is in transition. The way we work, organize, live, consume, and connect is constantly evolving. This raises questions. Some experience uncertainty and resistance, while others embrace progress and opportunity.

As a leader, you find yourself navigating the tensions between these perspectives. How do you stay on course in a time when fixed structures are dissolving, and knowledge and technology are changing at an unprecedented pace? What does the world ask of you, and what do you ask of the world? How do you translate this into your daily work and the responsibilities of your organization and people? How do you ensure both continuity and well-being?

Authentic Leadership: A Calling

Authentic leadership is not a choice—it seeks you out. It calls you, again and again. But do you take the space, the attention, the silence, and the support needed to let your gift flourish and fulfill your role as both a person and a leader?

During an exclusive four-day leadership program at Quinta da Alcaidaria-Mór in Ourém, Portugal, you will be invited to reassess your leadership in an inspiring and historic setting and be challenged to take the next step in your journey.

Next-Level Leadership: Movement, Connection, and Perspective

Leadership is not a status or a fixed identity; it is a continuous movement between thoughts, dilemmas, people, and challenges. It requires connection—with yourself and the world—and a compass to guide you. How do you make decisions? How do you handle responsibility, relationships, and change? How do you stay true to yourself while everything around you shifts? What role do you take on, and what impact do you want to make?

Our Approach: From Theory to Experience

This program is not a traditional training or workshop—it is a holistic experience. We integrate insights from developmental psychology, systemic work, body and mind integration, presencing (Theory U), and depth psychology to help you deepen and strengthen your authentic leadership.

We take an experiential approach, adapting theory to the questions that arise throughout the four-day journey. Theory is not an end in itself but a tool to deepen and apply insights. Our methods include, Biographical and family system exploration, Constellations and systemic work, Meditation and guided imagery, Historical context and storytelling, Physical and mental awareness exercises all designed to bring clarity to your next step.

A Radically Honest and Appreciative Approach

Our foundation—the systemic perspective and depth psychology—is both appreciative and radically honest. Growth begins with the acceptance of what is. This program provides a space where you will be challenged to look at yourself, your position, and your impact in a completely new way.

Together with fellow leaders and under the guidance of Rombout and Jürg, you will dive deep into the essence of leadership. From day one, you will explore your point of departure—your starting point in leadership. Not by digging into the past, but by re-examining the present. What future is already waiting for you? What potential is asking to be discovered? What is the best version of yourself that is ready to emerge?

An Environment That Inspires

True reflection and transformation require the right setting. Quinta da Alcaidaria-Mór, a historic estate near the castle of Ourém, provides an atmosphere of tranquility and depth. Its authentic charm, stunning nature, and refined Portuguese gastronomy contribute to an experience that is not only intellectual but also physical and emotional.

Your Journey Starts Here

Are you ready to undergo a profound transformation in your leadership? This program invites you to:

• Explore your family system and roots to understand how you have become who you are—and what you no longer are.
• Recognize the influence of old systems on your leadership and learn to use them more powerfully and consciously.
• Discover new perspectives and gain a renewed vision of yourself, your team, your challenges, and the world around you.
• Reshape your leadership with clarity and authenticity and define concrete actions for your path forward.

Leadership requires courage—the courage to see what is and the courage to move toward what is possible.

We invite you to embark on this journey in this extraordinary place...

Encounters in Authentic Leadership – Step by Step

Preparation for Your Next Step

This journey begins weeks in advance. We will schedule an online meeting with you, connect you with other participants, and explore your starting point. If desired, we will inspire you with articles, books, and stories. You will be invited into our journey—not as an obligation, but as a source of inspiration—so that once we arrive on-site, we can fully engage with one another.

A key part of this preparation is a personal intake conversation with Rombout or Jürg. This online session provides space to identify your personal challenges and learning needs. In a relaxed setting, we will delve into your questions and goals. On your way to Portugal, you will receive inspiring questions and creative assignments to consciously transition from "there" to "here." What does your journey say about your past, your present, and the future that is unfolding? You will receive a small assignment for the first day—nothing is mandatory, you do what feels right for you.

Each day begins with a meditative exercise after breakfast to ensure mindful presence before we enter the daily program.

Sunday (Arrival)

• Until 19:00 – Upon arrival in Portugal, you can choose: rent a car or let us arrange a transfer to our beautiful location, about an hour’s drive from Lisbon.
• From 19:00 – On Sunday evening, we welcome you with an aperitif of Portuguese delicacies. As you step onto the Quinta, you immediately breathe in its authentic atmosphere, tranquility, and serenity. We will meet informally, share travel stories, and open the program.

Day 1: Myself and the Forces That Shaped My Leadership

• 07:30 – Breakfast.
• 08:30 – A short introduction to authentic leadership, followed by a reflective exercise combining thought, imagination, and body awareness. You will clarify your personal question: What do you need to take the next step in your leadership? 
• We work with storytelling. Who will place their story in the center first, to explore the past, illuminate the present, and let the future emerge?
• What insights resonate with others in their leadership journeys?
• 12:30 – Lunch & siesta. More than a midday nap, siesta is a time for renewed energy and reflection.
• 14:00 – After the siesta, we dive into the history of the Quinta. We weave the inspiring surroundings into our own leadership journey. In doing so, we further explore the personal stories of the participants—through a constellation, a generative dialogue, or another creative form of reflection.
• 18:30 – At the end of the day, we take brief reflections and conclude with drinks and small bites under the old veranda, surrounded by fragrant vineyards in the soft glow of the afternoon sun.
• 20:00 – We gather in the dining hall, where a table as old as the estate itself awaits us for a welcome dinner, hosted by the Quinta’s owners.

Day 2: Myself in Relation to Others

• 07:30 – Breakfast.
• 08:30 – We continue with storytelling and reflections, shifting today’s focus to relationships and interactions. 
• How do you connect with others?
• How do you communicate?
• What patterns play a role in your leadership?
• We explore attachment, resistance, and connection.
• 12:30 – Lunch & siesta.
• 14:00 – Afternoon program continuation.
• 17:00 – The day ends around 17:00, followed by a trip to Tomar. Tonight, you choose where to dine and how to explore the city.
• Evening – For those who prefer to stay at the Quinta, a meal can be arranged. We end the evening around the fireplace or veranda, enjoying a glass of port, wine, or any other preference.

Day 3: Myself in the Group

• 07:30 – Breakfast.
• 08:30 – We continue storytelling, now shifting our lens to group dynamics. 
• How do you move within a group?
• How do you take responsibility, and how are you influenced?
• We explore the tension between individual and collective and how you take your place within a team.
• We utilize the Quinta’s beautiful workspaces, terrace, and surrounding nature.
• 12:30 – Lunch & siesta.
• 14:00 – Theoretical foundations: 
• Group processes
• Leadership in teams
• Balancing “I” and “we”
• 18:30 – Aperitif – Between the end of the program and dinner, you have time to rest, walk, or swim in the Quinta’s pool.
• 20:00 – Tonight, we are once again treated to a dinner at the Quinta, hosted by the owners.

Day 4: Myself as a Responsible Person in the Greater Whole

• 07:30 – Breakfast.
• 08:30 – Today, we examine your values and ethical dilemmas through three key questions: 
• What does good leadership mean to me?
• What is at stake for me?
• How do I bring meaning to my leadership within the greater whole?
• We alternate practical exercises with philosophical insights.
• 12:30 – Lunch & siesta.
• 14:00 – Continuation of the morning program.
• 16:00 – Short refreshment break.
• 16:30 – In the late afternoon, we travel to Ourém, where we work under the ancient trees near the castle and chapel to shape your action plan for the future.
• 19:30 – In the evening, we gather at Restaurant Madeleine, a small, authentic family-run restaurant, where we celebrate our journey with fado music, great food, and personal reflection on each participant’s experience.

Day 5: Departure or Extension

• 07:30 – Breakfast.
• After breakfast – Every journey has a beginning, middle, and end. We say our farewells, and for those who wish, individual conversations with the facilitators are available.
• For those leaving, a transfer to the airport is ready.
• Others may choose to extend their journey with a visit to Fátima, Lisbon, or other destinations.

With new insights and a renewed compass, you return home, ready to shape your leadership with clarity and authenticity.

You are a leader with responsibility—both in your organization and at home. You have learned and experienced a great deal, both in practice and through education and training. For you, development is not a destination but an ongoing process. You recognize that you have a gift, and with it comes a responsibility—toward yourself, your family, your organization, and the world around you.

You feel the call to grow further and understand that this requires reflecting on the past and the present. At the same time, you know that change is necessary, but not at the cost of losing yourself. It’s not just about letting go—it’s about making space for something new.

This exclusive program is specifically designed for:

• Executives who want to deepen their leadership.
• Entrepreneurs who seek to lead with authenticity and strength.
• Professionals who want to act with greater impact and confidence.

You have already done significant work in personal development, yet you ask yourself: What is my next step?

This program is for those who feel that more is being asked of them—as a person and as a leader.

Jürg & Rombout – Guides in Leadership & Transformation

Jürg and Rombout are experienced facilitators who have supported leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals in their growth and transformation for many years. Their approach is tailored, personal, and direct, combining sharpness with empathy. They do not differ as opposites but as complements, enriching each other’s methods. Together, they stand at the edge of vulnerability, always in service of the participant.

With deep roots in both practice and academia, they integrate insights from systemic work, group dynamics, Eastern and Western psychology, psychodynamics, and organizational theory. Their guidance is radically honest yet compassionate, creating a safe space for reflection, growth, and action.

They do not offer ready-made answers, but rather guide participants toward deeper insights and concrete solutions. They help leaders take their next step—with depth, appreciation, and a broad perspective on the world.

Collaboration for them means bringing their individual strengths side by side. At times, one takes the lead, then the other. Alternating, complementing, and supporting each other in the process.

Jürg Thölke

Born in Switzerland, shaped by a life of movement and continuous reinvention. His curiosity about how people and systems function is at the core of everything he does —as a researcher, facilitator, teacher, advisor, entrepreneur, parent, and partner. Always a teacher and a learner.

He was a professor at HAN University of Applied Sciences and Inholland, leading the Master’s program in Supervision and Coaching. He remains involved in leadership education within the MBA program at Nyenrode Business University.

As an entrepreneur, he has worked with companies such as Brunel, Heijmans, DHL, TKH, and Achmea.

Rombout van den Nieuwenhof

is a psychologist, trainer, coach, and organizational advisor, specializing in complex change processes and personal leadership development.

He earned his PhD from the University of Amsterdam, researching the dynamics of change processes, and teaches in various (post)academic programs.

As the founder of ZENO, an advisory firm within a network of like-minded professionals, Rombout offers tailored solutions in organizational development, coaching, and peer supervision.

The cost for this exclusive program ranges from €3,695 to €3,995 (excluding VAT).

Included in the investment:

✔ Accommodation for 5 nights
✔ Online intake session and preparation
✔ Full participation in the leadership program
✔ Welcome aperitif, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinners (except on your free evening)
✔ Optional transfers and excursions within the program

We maintain a maximum group size of 12 participants to ensure personal attention and deep interactions.

Accommodation Options

There are various accommodation choices, subject to availability and order of registration:

• Three private cottages for one person – €3,995
• One shared cottage for two people, with separate bedrooms – €3,795
• Six large hotel rooms in the main building – €3,995
• One smaller hotel room – €3,695

Let us know your preferred option when registering.

A location is never just a choice. The place where we gather significantly contributes to the process of reflection, inspiration, and interaction. That is why we have deliberately chosen an environment that not only provides peace and space but is also rich in history and authenticity.

The program takes place at Quinta da Alcaidaria-Mór, a historic estate in Alcaidaria, near the picturesque medieval towns of Ourém and Tomar, and a short distance from the sanctuary of Fátima. This estate, dating back to the early 17th century, belongs to the family of the Barons of Alvaiázere. The King of Portugal granted this special place as recognition for the baron’s exceptional medical services. Since then, the Quinta has retained its noble and intellectual character, radiating a unique atmosphere of refinement and history.

Surrounded by centuries-old gardens, vast farmland, and rolling hills, this location offers breathtaking views of the majestic castle of Ourém. This medieval hilltop castle provides panoramic views over the region and houses the ruins of the former palace of the Counts of Ourém. The historic town center of Ourém, with its narrow streets and traditional architecture, offers a window into Portugal’s rich past.

The Quinta itself is a place of authentic charm. The original Portuguese style has been carefully preserved, while the interior has been subtly enhanced with modern luxury and comfort. Historically inspired furniture, carefully restored and combined with contemporary elegance, gives the spaces a warm and timeless ambiance.

Beyond its serene setting, Quinta da Alcaidaria-Mór also offers a high-level culinary experience. The host herself prepares refined Portuguese cuisine, using local ingredients and traditional recipes. Every meal is served in an intimate and stylish setting, where gastronomy and hospitality come together.

Here, where nature, authentic luxury, and history intertwine, a setting is created that invites deep conversations, reflection, and transformative insights. A place where time seems to stand still, allowing inspiration to flourish.

This program is scheduled for 2025 and will take place from Sunday, September 21 to Friday, September 26.

Choose this start date to reserve your spot and embark on an inspiring leadership journey in a unique location.